Practice Exercise 1 - Topics
Here are three exercises to help you master the
concept of "Topics." The exercises increase in
difficulty.
There are five paragraphs below. After each paragraph
are two questions about the topic of the paragraph. Read
the paragraphs and answer the questions. The correct
answers and explanations follow the five paragraphs.
 A.
A national contest to find the worst boss in the nation
had some remarkable candidates. One person nominated a
boss who had a sign on his desk saying "people are
animals." Another named a boss who liked to choke
and bite his employees. And the winner was a boss who
would not let his employees go to a funeral unless they
produced a death notice that was printed in the local
paper.
1. As a topic of this paragraph, "A national
contest" is
a. too general b. just right
c. too
specific
2. As a topic of this paragraph, "A national worst boss
contest" is
a. too general b. just right
c. too
specific
B.
Hot tubs have become popular places to relax and relieve
muscle tension. However, if you use a hot tub, you should
be careful. Dipping your body in hot water makes your
heart beat faster. This can be a problem for people with
high blood pressure. The hot water also raises your body
temperature. This can cause a loss of important body
fluids. And five to ten minutes in a hot tub burns off
blood sugar. This can be harmful for people with
diabetes.
3. As a topic of this paragraph, "Cautions for
using a hot tub" is
a. too general b. just right
c. too
specific
4. As a topic of this paragraph, "What five to
ten minutes in a hot tub can do" is
a. too general b. just right
c. too
specific
C.
The highest military honor in the land is to be named as
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Only a few
military men have held this post. The first Chairman was
General Omar Bradley, who was nominated by President
Harry Truman. Other Chairs have included General Maxwell
Taylor, Admiral William Crowe, and General Colin Powell,
who became famous for his handling of the Gulf War.
5. As a topic of this paragraph, "General Colin
Powell" is
a. too general b. just right
c. too
specific
6. As a topic of this paragraph, "Chairmen of
the Joint Chiefs of Staff" is
a. too general
b. just right c. too
specific
D.
There are currently 5.5 billion people living in the
world today. Population is expected to grow rapidly in
coming years. By the year 2000, this figure is expected
to grow to 6.3 billion. It is
estimated that twenty-five years later, over 8 billion people will inhabit the
planet. And in sixty years, population will be over 10
billion.
7. As a topic of this paragraph,
"Population growth" is
a. too general b. just right
c. too
specific
8. As a topic of this paragraph, "The number of
people in the world today" is
a. too general b. just right
c. too
specific
E.
People who don't brush their teeth regularly usually have
bad breath. However, there are other causes of bad breath. A
throat infection is one source of bad breath. A sinus
problem can also cause bad breath. Even too much coffee
or alcohol can cause bad breath. And a stomach problem
resulting in acid buildup can be a contributor, as well.
9. As a topic of this paragraph, "Bad
breath" is
a. too general b. just right
c. too
specific
10. As a topic of this paragraph, "Causes of bad
breath" is
a. too general b. just right
c. too
specific
Last update:
04/07/06 |
